Security Bars on 1st Flr Windows

[Lloyd Bonafide]

It reminds me of something funny that happened to me 2 weeks ago. I appraised a home for FHA about a year that had security bars without a release. I made the report subject to repairs. I went out a couple weeks after, the bars were removed, I took photos and submitted the report.
2 weeks ago I was doing an appraisal in the neighborhood and drove by that house. The bars were back on the windows. I turned around and drove by it again just to make sure. I got back to the office and double checked the report to make sure I had photos with the security bars removed.

This is going back maybe 15 years, but at least in this area HUD specifically would not allow bedroom security bars to be removed, just for the reason you explained. They insisted that quick releases be installed. They knew that when security bars were removed, that the homeowner might put the unsafe bars back on the window right after the loan was closed.

 

[Smokey Bear]

I agree. I have a personal responsibility as a decent human being to note readily correctable hazards that present a clear risk of life for a property's inhabitants. This responsibility supersedes any made-up rule.

LOL, I'm a real estate professional, and my mom insists that her double cylinder deadbolt on the back door is legal because the back door has paned glass. YOu couldn't crawl out of it, but she thinks it's legal. Won't listen to a word I say. Never mind that it's in the kitchen and she often leaves the stove on, and it's more likely the house would catch fire than get burglarized. I don't know squat.

 

[TEL2002]

Shame on you Smokey!!!!!

Scott - the fire department in Alameda, where I used to live, used to come out every year to inspect the building for smoke detectors and fire extinguishers. They probably would have looked at burglar bars too if we had had any. I'd always get them to change my smoke detector batteries for me. Firemen in California are required to be cute, or they can't get hired.

 

[Smokey Bear]

Shame on you Smokey!!!!!

For what? It's true. I've never seen an ugly fireman in California. LOL